The dramatic impact of months of disruption to Southern Railway services has been revealed by passengers now facing 'intolerable' journeys.

A survey of 1,000 passengers showed that delays, cancellations and overcrowding is causing health problems, forcing people to move house and even lose their jobs.

The Association of British Commuters said its survey highlighted the extent of suffering as a result of the 'utter breakdown' of services.

It comes ahead of another round of strikes with no Southern services to take place between January 9 and January 14 as drivers stage a week-long walk-out.

Scroll down for video

The Association of British Commuters, pictured, has published a survey revealing Southern rail passengers are furious at their 'intolerable' journeys

It comes as there will be no services on Southern between January 9 and 14 due to another strike by drivers

A spokesman said: 'An accurate understanding of the situation is far more nuanced than we are currently seeing portrayed by the company and politicians - which has become a further aggravation for commuters, many of whom were forced to leave their jobs or relocate their homes long before the strike action became an issue.

'Thousands of people are now at breaking point, and the Association of British Commuters continues to advocate on their behalf - calling for immediate and transparent Government intervention into this failed company as well as a fully independent public inquiry into the circumstances behind the collapse of Southern Rail.'

One commuter from Brighton to London said: 'Frequently the trains I board are overcrowded, messy and full of faults. I've had passengers shout and swear at me for daring to ask them to move down the carriage.

'I've helped fainters disembark because there's been no conductor, and even if there was they'd have little chance of battling through the crowds. I've come home crying. I've come home angry.

'This didn't used to be the case - my partner recently remarked on how upbeat and calm I was during a period of annual leave.

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

'Rest assured this wasn't because I was taking time away from the job I enjoy.

'It was because I was spending upwards of two hours a day honing my running, elbowing and gymnastics skills aboard the four-carriage 16:15 to Brighton.

'I honestly believe I wouldn't be on a high dose of antidepressants if it weren't for my commute.

'I'm writing this comment from the East of England, after attending a job interview. If I get it I will cry tears of sheer relief.'

Another passenger who commutes daily from Brighton to London said: 'Quite simply, it has ruined my life.

'The stress and exhaustion from the constant disruption and uncertainty has had a dramatically negative effect on my work, my health and my relationships.

'From tomorrow I will be separated from my family during the working week and paying a rent I cannot afford simply in order to stay in London to do my job.'

The ABC said thousands of people were 'at breaking point' over the delays and cancellations

Many services have been cancelled at short notice, with strikes in the past few weeks leaving commuters stranded and causing travel chaos

A commuter from Wivelsfield to London said: 'The Southern Rail crisis has affected me profoundly - I have lost faith in Government, civil service and mainstream media.

'I have had to abandon my belief in rail travel as an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible transport option, I have lost out financially as I have had to cut my work hours to reduce commuting.

'I am absolutely stunned by the levels of self-interest, profiteering, disregard for public safety and sheer immorality that the whole issue has revealed.

'I have no faith that DfT (Department for Transport) will apologise and improve things and believe that our essential rail system will collapse totally.

'Abandoned attempts to get to work, disrupted work days, cancelled meeting up with friends, changed dentist, unable to visit family for caring purposes, cancelled sports club memberships as unable to get home in time, get up at 0445 every day to check live departures so short of sleep, stressed by the thought of even trying to catch a train.'

A daily commuter from Horley to London said: 'I have lost two jobs and about to be put on disciplinary for time keeping in my new job.

'Despite not having sympathy with the unions, this situation is being exacerbated by the intransigence and sheer ineptitude of some extremely poor management at Govia.'

A daily commuter from Merstham to Clapham said: 'Getting to work on time is proving near impossible most days of the week.

'Getting home is proving a nightmare most days of the week. If I could find a job with no commute, I'd swap in an instant.'

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union are on the second day of a three day strike in their long-running dispute over the role of conductors.

Some Southern services were cancelled or replaced by buses. An ongoing ban on overtime by drivers in Aslef added to the disruption.

The ABC survey revealed many people feel the problems with their journeys are impacting on their personal life from family time to leisure activities

Commuters also said the poor services were causing them to become more tired and stressed and less productive at work

Southern is already warning there will be no services during a week-long strike by drivers from January 9.

Alex Foulds, Southern's deputy chief operating officer, said: 'While we will do everything we can to get passengers where they want to go, we have to warn people that journeys may be disrupted and take longer than normal.

'We are sorry that yet again passengers will have their plans disrupted by what is pointless industrial action.

'Our door remains open for meaningful talks and we urge the RMT to see sense and join us in delivering a better railway for everyone in 2017.'

Meanwhile the annual rise in rail fares has been described by public transport campaigners as 'another kick in the teeth' for passengers.

The average increase across Britain of 2.3 per cent came into force on Monday morning, although the figure varies between operators, with fares on Virgin Trains East Coast services up by 4.9 per cent.

The overall rise is the highest since January 2014, when fares increased by 2.8 per cent.

Lianna Etkind, of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: 'Today's fare rises are another kick in the teeth for long-suffering rail passengers.

'Many experienced a less frequent and more overcrowded service last year, and now they are required to pay more for the same this year.

'The whole fares system is completely unfair and its high time the Government overhauled it.'

Bruce Williamson, of independent campaign group Railfuture, said: 'With the chaos on Southern, lacklustre performance in Scotland and stalled electrification on the Great Western main line, passengers are going to wonder what they are getting for their increased ticket price.

'Our walk-on rail fares are already the most eye-watering in Europe, and with fuel duty frozen for motorists for the fifth year on the trot, it can't be denied that people are being priced off the railways.'

The Government uses the previous July's Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation to determine increases in regulated fares, which was 1.9 per cent.

These are around 40% of all tickets and include season tickets on most commuter routes and some off-peak return tickets on long distance journeys.

Train operating companies set the prices of other tickets but are bound by competition rules.